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11-1982 The aE rly Bibles of Philadelphia and Germantown La Salle University Art Museum

Brother Daniel Burke FSC

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This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the La Salle University Art Museum at La Salle University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Art Museum Exhibition Catalogues by an authorized administrator of La Salle University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Early Bibles Of Philadelphia And Germantown

The Susan Dunleavy Collection of Biblical Literature

La Salle College Art Gallery

November 15, 1982 - February 20, 1933

The Early Bibles of Philadelphia and Germantown

Aside from the extraordinary Indian Bible of John Eliot in the seven­

teenth century, the early history of the Bible in America is centered in

Philadelphia and Germantown. As a small tribute during the tricentennials

of the city (1982) and the town (1983), La Salle is offering an exhibition

of their many firsts: the first Bible printed in a foreign language (1743),

the first children's Bible (1763), first in English (1777),

first and only Bible printed under the patronage of Congress (1782), first

Catholic bible history (1784), first Catholic Bible (1790), first of John

Wesley's edition with notes (1791), first with American illustrators (1796),

first from a "hot press" (1798), first Bible printed by a woman (1808),

first (1814).

These editions and others indeed make for an interesting historical

record, especially when one considers the difficulties oar earliest printers had in getting type and other equipment, the scarcity and the generally poor quality of paper and ink available, and the strict prohibition of

England, in an effort to protect its own monopoly, against printing English

Bibles.

Moreover, the early history of the Bible in America is replete with

interesting characters-Christopher Saur, the first printer in Germantown, who agreed to print some pamphlets for the German iirmigrant comnunity and backed into printing their first Bible; his son Christopher, who printed the third edition of the sane Bible but saw most of the edition used for gun-wadding in the Battle of Germantown; Philadelphia printer Robert

Aitken (his splendid portrait in the exhibition is by Charles Willson

Peale, the major colonial painter from whose farm the La Salle campus is decended), who printed the New Testament less as a carrrerciai or devotional enterprise than as a revolutionary gesture to the mother- country; Benjamin Franklin who called for an update of the King James

Version and translated the opening of Job rather freakishly to demonstrate what he had in mind: deist who excerpted the New Testament for his private use in a manuscript that was later printed by the Govern­ ment; Joseph Cruikshank, a Quaker printer who published the first Catholic prayer-book in the Colonies and later the first Methodist Bible; Mathew

Carey, Irish revolutionary who learned printing in Franklin's shop outside*

Paris and came to Philadelphia to print the first Ca.tholic edition;

Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, who made the first English trans­ lation of the Septuagint and had it printed by Robert Aitken's daughter,

Jane; the obscure Carl Cist, who had a printing house on 20th Street.

Philadelphia was also the site of the first Bible Society (non­ commercial publishers) in America founded in 1808 with Bishop V/hite as its President. It was then called The Philadelphia. Bible Society, and continues today as The Bible Society, 701 Walnut Street.

The works exhibited here are a memorial and a celebration of

American men and women who found strength and guidance in the Holy Scripture during trying times and who sought to bring its solace and inspiration to others in two major centers ox early American industry and culture.

Br. Daniel Burke, Director

K K CASE I

I 1 2 Biblia Das ist Die Helige Das Neue Testament... I Schrift... Germantown: Christopher Saur, 1745 Germantown: Christopher Saur, 1743 This is the first edition of the I Christopher Saur (1694-1758) emigrated New Testament printed in German to Germantown, Pa. from his native in America, by Christopher Saur's Germany at thirty-one years of age. son, Christopher Saur II. [ Here he became a master of many trades and arts: clockmaker, glazier, book­ Rumball-Petre: 160 seller and printer. Although largely l self-taught in the latter trade, Saur Lent by The Historical Society founded a printing establishment in of Pennsylvania 1738 which became one of the largest of its time. He was a man of deep I religious conviction and his desire to fulfill the great need in his 3 community for a Bible led him to i print the first Bible in a European Die Helige Schrift... language in America (1,200 copies). Basing it on a non-orthodox Luther Germantown: Christopher Saur, l version, Saur tried to produce a (the younger), 1763 Bible which would satisfy the various conflicting German Protestant sects Upon Saur's death in 1758, his (Dunkards, Mennonites, Lutherans) son, Christopher Saur II, contin­ [ who settled in the Germantown area. ued his father's printing business The Bible also served the German at 5225 Germantown Avenue. In 1763 speaking people who settled in he issued a second quarto edition [ Lancaster and Lebanon counties of the Bible (2,000 copies). Tnis (Schwenkfelders, Moravians, Amish). edition has the distinction of being the first Bible printed on American i D & M: 4240 paper. Saur became self-sufficient in the bookmaking trade for in 1773 78-B-106 he built his own paper mill on the Schuylkill, obtained binding from [ his own bindery and made his own ink. l Rumbe11-Petre: 161 i 79-8-204 [ [ L 4 Chestnut Hill where he printed a weekly newspaper in German, Die Helige Scfarift... Die Chestnurhiller Wolchen- schrift, and many religious Germantown, Christopher Saur, 1777 publications.

Christopher Saur II issued a third 82-B-459 (B) quarto edition in 1776, just as the Revolution began. Because he was dubious that the American cause would, succeed and, on o religious grounds, refused to take an oath of allegiance to Das Neue Testament... the new confederation of states, his property was confiscated. Fniladelphia: Carl Cist, 1791 Tradition has it that most of the unbound sheets of his Bible were Charles Cist, a Russian, and used as cartridge paper in the Melchior Steiner, a Swiss, Battle of Germantown, hence it established a printing press in came to be known as the "Gun- Philadelphia in 1776, where they wad Bible". It was the first published many works in German Bible set in American-made and English. Cist moved his type, cast in Saur's own business to Washington, D.C., foundry. when it became the nation's capital and remained there D & M: 4240 until his death in 1804. Runbell-Betre: 159 Not in D & M 78-B-106 Lent by Tne Lutheran Theological Seminary Library. Philadelphia

5

Das Kleine Davidische Psaltersplel

Chestnut Hill: Printed, by Samuel Saur, 1791

Samuel Saur, the youngest of Christopher Saur II's sons con­ tinued in the printing business upon his father's death in 1704- He moved from Germantown to 7 8

Das Neue Testament... Psalmen Davids...

Germantown: Michael Billmeyer. Gerrnantown: Michael Billmeyer, 1795 1799

Billmeyer and his father-in-law, 80-B-308 (3) Leibert, recorrrrenced the printing business in Germantown in 1794 after Christopher Saur II's property was confiscated. 'Ihe partnership ended in 1787 and, thereafter, the two men printed in separate shops in Germantown. Billmeyer became a prolific printer of the New Testament in German. He issued ten editions (seven of which are in La Salle's collection) between 1787-1822 to satisfy the great demand of the various German speaking people in Germantown, the Ephrata Cloister and other areas in Lancaster County. The paper for Bilimeyer's printing business was likely obtained from the first paper mill in the colonies, established in 1690, that of William Hitteahouse, located nearby along a branch of the Wiss ahi ckon Creek.

O'Callahan: p. 50

80-B-308 (1) CASE II

9 10

The New Testament of Our Lord The Holy Bible and Saviour Jesus Christ: Containing the Old and New Newly Translated Out of the Testaments: Newly Translated Out Original Greek... of the Original Tongues...

Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by R. Aitken, Printer and Bookseller, R. Aitken, at Pope's Head, Three Front Street. 1777. Doors Above the Coffee House, in Market Street. 1782. B o m in Scotland in 1734, Aitken came to Philadelphia in 1769 and The first complete edition of the began a business as a bookseller Authorized Version was issued with and later as a printer. During the seal of Pennsylvania on the the Revolution he became printer title-page and, on the second leaf, to the Congress and an interested the resolution of Congress of party to the deliberations of one September 12, 1782, approving the of its committees on ways to meet publication and recommending it to the rising demand for Bibles. the inhabitants of the United Since England had forbidden the States. The recommendation re­ printing of English Bibles in the flected the interest of Congress colonies and their export of in the work itself but also, Bibles was now cut off, the undoubtedly, its gratitude to Aitken Committee urged that 20,000 for his service during the war, copies be imported, at govern­ especially his removal to Baltimore ment expense, from Scotland and during the British occupation. Holland. But the recoinnendation was not followed up, and Aitken It was , Secretary took the initiative of producing who signed the Congressional reso­ the first English New Testament lution commending Aitken for a in America in 1777, reprinting it "pious and laudable undertalcing" several times thereafter. accomplished with such "care and accuracy." Soon afterwards, Hills: 1 Washington wrote to a friend that he regretted not having been able to Lent by The Historical Society give a copy of the Aitken Bible to ox Pennsylvania. each veteran before the Army was disbanded.

Hills: 12

Lent by The Rare Book Room, The Free Library of Philadelphia I K

11 32

The New Testament... The History of the Old and New I Testament... Philadelphia: Printed and sold Chiefly taken from the Holy Fathers,.. by Hall and Sellers in Market From the French by J, Reeve Street, 1780 3rd edition

David Hall was hired by Benjamin Philadelphia: Printed by M. Steiner Franklin in 1744, became his for C. Talbot, 1784 I printer in 1748, replacing the "B. Franklin" imprint with This is the first bock issued by a "Franklin and Hall"-an associa­ Catholic publisher in America, K tion which lasted 18 years and Christopher Talbot, who came to operated three presses. Hall Philadelphia from Dublin. In 1785, later took on William Sellers Talbot joined Mathew Carey and (a London bookseller) as a William Spotswood, to found the I partner. After Hall's death in Pennsylvania Herald, and in 1786, 1772, the firm retained the he became one of Carey's partners name of Hall and Sellers until in establishing the Columbian K the latter died in 1804. Magazine. John Henry Miller, who had a long and distinguished Lent by The Rare Book Room, printing career in Philadlephia, I The Free Library of'Philadelphia disposed of his business to Melchior Steiner and Charles Cist I in 1779.

Lent by The Historical Society I of Philadelphia E I E l t L 13 14

Holy Bible... An Original Leaf from the Bible of the Revolution Philadelphia: William Young, 1790 and An Essay Concerning It by Robert R. Dearden, Jr. and This is the second Protestant Douglas S. Watson Bible printed in America in English and apparently the first Printed by Edwin and Robert Grabhorn Bible with an American imprint for John Howell, San Francisco, 1930. containing the Psalms in meter (Scotch version of 1790). It Many American Bibles in La Salle's was advertised at "five-eights Dunleavy Collection cane from the of a dollar" as a school edition collection of the late Robert R. in 1794 and 1802. Dearden, Jr., a prominent Philadel­ phia Bible collector and author of Hills: 25 the history of the publication of the Bible, The Guiding Light on the Lent by The Rare Book Room, Great. Highway. The Free Library of Philadelphia 81-B-410 I K

K 15 I The Holy Bible... Philadelphia: Printed for Berriman & Co., by Jacob R. Berriman. 1796.

I This is one of the earliest illus­ trated Bibles in America, and surpasses all previous issues I typographically. It is illus­ trated with eight full-page engravings by American Artists; I F. Shallus, A. Anderson, C. Teibout, A. Doolittle and Rollison, also contains a two- 17 page list of subscribers located I principally in New York and Benjamin Franklin rs Proposed Philadelphia. Version 1 Hills: 53 Several proposals were made during Rumball-Petre: 175 the Colonial period for American editions of the Bible, including 80-B-295 one by Cotton Mather, but none of I these achieved publication. One of the more eccentric was by Benjamin Franklin, who in 1789 K 16 proposed updating of the Authorized Version, with a more modern "turn Charles Nicolas Cochin, Ihe of phrase and manner of expression.' I Younger, (1715-1790), French He supplied a few verses from the Bock of Job to indicate what he had D. Benjamin Franklin, 1777 in mind: "And God said, 'Well, what think you of Lord Job? You see he I is iry best friend...' And Satan Mezzotint 8-5/8 x 6-1/4" answered... 'Try him: only withdraw your favor, turn him out of his [ 75-Por-34 places, withhold his pensions, and you will soon find him in the I opposition.”' See Wright, Early Bible of America, p. 228. Calligraphy by Mrs. Helen [ Gidjunis. [ L L 18 19

The "Jefferson Bible" New Testament...

The so-called "Jefferson Bible" Philadelphia: Benjamin Johnson, was actually entitled "The Life 1792. and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, Extracted from the in Benjamin Johnson was a well estab­ Greek, Latin, French, and lished bookseller-printer in Phila­ English." Jefferson apparently delphia. at the end of the American had in mind such a "digest of Revolution, in 1808, he was moral doctrine" as early as an joined by Benjamin Warner who 1804 letter to . eventually bought out Johnson's In a letter to in share of the business. 1813, he reports that he had made his compilation of forty-six Hills: 41 pages by cutting parallel verses from several New Testaments. The Lent by The Rare Book Room, digest was intended for his own The Free Library of Philadelphia use and so it remained unpub­ lished until Jefferson's papers were acquired by the government in 1895. Thereafter, by resolu­ tion of the Fifty-seventh Congress, sane nine thousand copies were printed for the use of the House and Senate.

Washington; Government Printing Office. 1904. (Facsimile) I K

I 20 21 The Holy Bible... Explanatory Notes upon the New I Translated from the Latin Vulgate Testament by John Wesley...... And first published by the The First American Edition English College at Doway, Anno 1609. Philadlephia: Printed by I J. Crukshank, sold by J. Dickins Philadelphia: Printed and sold ..., 1791. by Carey, Stewart, and Co., 1790. 1 John Wesley, the founder of the This is the first American edition Methodist Church, felt the need of the Douai translation of the for inproving the Authorized I Vulgate and is probably the first Version of the King James Bible quarto Bible published in the (1611). He made 12,000 changes, United States. Given the size of a considerable nunber of which the Catholic minority, the demand were later adopted by the English K for a Douai-Rheims version -was Revised Version of 1881/85 and relatively small when Carey sane by the Revised Standard announced his intention of pub­ Versions of 1952. Methodist pub­ I lishing one in 1789. He re­ lishing was under the control of quested 400 subscribers, got 471, the church and John Dickins was and published the work on Decem­ made its official publisher in I ber 7, 1790. His firm soon America in 1783. Joseph Crukshank, became the largest and most a Quaker, operated a printing important Bible-printing house business in Philadelphia between in the country. It continues 1770 and 1780. Here he issued the I today under the name of Lea and first Catholic prayer book in Febiger. America, as well as many publica­ tions for the Society of Friends, E Hills: 23 c. 1770-1774. I 82-B-444 H i lls: 35 Lent by The Historical Society E of Pennsylvania. E E E L L CASE IV

23

The Holy Bible... The Holy Bible Containing The Old and New Covenant... Translated out of the Original Tongues. Translated from The Greek, by Charles Thomson, Late Secretary to Printed and published by the Congress of the United States... Mathew Carey,... Philadelphia: Printed by Jane May 8, 1805 Aitken, 1808. In 4 vols.

In 1801, Carey published his first Charles Thomson (1729-1824), emigrated edition of the King James Bible. from northern Ireland to Philade]phia He eventually published more than in 1739. Here he led a distinguished sixty editions of this version. career as teacher (Philadelphia As his business grew, it became Academy/Univ. of Pa., William Penn necessary to assign much of the Charter School), friend to the Indians, work to outside printers. patriot, biblical scholar and only Secretary to the Hills: similar to 121 (1774-1789). He was described by John Adams as "The Sam Adams of Phila­ 78-B-182 delphia, the life of the cause of liberty." Upon his retirement as Secretary to Congress he devoted the rest of his life to the translation of the Bible (a twenty year undertaking), and to other scholarly pursuits. His Bible is the first English translation of the New Testament in the western hemisphere and the first English translation of the Septuagint: (the Greek Old Testament) in the world. It has the further distinction of being the first Bible in America printed by a woman, Jane Aitken, the daughter of Robert Aitken. She continued her father's publishing-printing, book­ selling business after his death in 1802.

Hills: 153 Ruirbal I-Petre: 20

81-8-409 (1-4) 24 his life to the translation of the Bible and other scholarly pursuits. The Old Covenant, Cortnonly Called The house is now maintained by the The Old Testament... Harriton Association and open to By Charles Thomson the public.

Philadelphia: Printed by Jane Lent by the Athenaeum of Aitken, 1808. Vol. I Philadelphia

This is Charles Thomson's copy, presented to the Library Company in 1825 by his nephew, John 26 Thomson. Its four volumes con­ tain many manuscript corrections Biblica Hebraica... and additions and reveal Thomson's last efforts to modernize the text. Philadlephia: Tybis Gulielm: Fry, Thomas Dobson, 1814. Vol. I Lent by The Library Company of Philadelphia The first Hebrew Bible printed in America is a reprint of the text of Everadun Van der Hooght, published in Amsterdam (1705). The proposal 25 and the editing for this two volume Bible was the work of Jonas Horwitz, W. L. Breton (c. 1830-1839), a graduate of the Medical School of American the University of Pennsylvania and a Philadelphia physician. Harriton House 1828 D & M: 5168a Watercolor Rurrbal 1-Petre: 191 7i x 10 ins. Lent by The Library Company Harriton House, Bryn Mawr, Pa., was of Philadelphia built in 1704 in the Welsh architect­ Gift of Edwin Wolf, 2nd ural style, by Rowland Ellis, a Welsh Quaker. In 1719 he sold his estate to Richard Harrison, Jr. The property was inherited by his daughter Hannah in 1774, who later that year married Charles Thomson. After re­ tiring as Secretary to Congress in 1789, Thomson retired to Harriton House to devote the remainder of 27 28

'The New Testament HKAINH AIA6KH Novum Testamentum,.. Philadelphia: Octoraro: Printed by Francis Bailey..., 1801 Philadelphia: Ex Officina Classica: Impensis. S. F. Bradford, 1886 Bailey began his printing career at Ephrata, moving on to Lancaster in The first edition of the Greek 1771. In 1779 he settled in Phila­ Sepxuagint in America was published delphia where he remained in the by one of America's leading pub­ printing business with partners, lisher-printers, Isaiah Thomas of Thomas Lang and Robert Bailey Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1880. respectively, until his death This second edition exhibited here c. 1800. He was one of the few is in both Greek and Latin, and colonial printers to make his own was edited by John Watts. It is a type and was considered a notable re-print of an edition of Joanne typographer. Leusden, published at Utrecht in 1765. Samuel Bradford was one of Hills: 83 William Bradford's successors, Philadelphia1s most prominent Lent by The Historical Society colonial printer. of Pennsylvania O'Callahan: p. 84, #3 80-B-3U I I CASE V I 29 30 Ihe Holy Bible Abridged... The Children's Bible... Being a valuable present for I a little son or daughter London: printed 1759 Philadelphia: reprinted and sold Illustrated with notes and adorned by Andrew Steuart, ...1763 K with cuts. This is the only known copy of the Philadelphia: Printed by Francis earliest Bible printed in America Bailey for the Rev. Mason L. Weems, for children. The first title, I 1794. missing from this copy, reveals the intentions of this publication; This children's Bible is one of "...to take such a firm Hold of I two copies known, and was printed their young minds and memories, and for Mason Locke Weems, parson, leave such Impressions there, both author of the Life of Washington of Moral and Religious Vertue, as I (containing many myths which are no accidents of their Lives will still with us), and an eccentric ever be able to blot out....” Ihe bookseller for Matfew Carey. printer and bookseller, Andrew I Printers, educators, and clergy­ Steuart, emigrated to Philadelphia men collaborated to produce from Ireland in 1758 and established approved religious stories for a press in Laetitia Court, later children, often abridged to the moving his business to Lancaster, K point of being entirely re­ Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, written in simple, 'direct language North Carolina. and illustrated with naive wood- i cuts . Rosenbach: 53 Rosenbach: 612.11 Lent by The Rare Bock Room, K The Free Library of Philadelphia Lent by Ihe Library Company K of Philadelphia [ [ i [ L L 31 33

The Child's Bible William Penn's Treaty with the Indians when He Founded By a Lady of Cinncinnati, 1834 the Province of Pennsylvania in North America, 1681 Philadelphia.: Henry F. Aimers Published London, June 12th, 1775 Stereotyped by J. A. James, Cincinnati, Chio Engraved (sculpsit) by John Hall (1739-1797), English 79-B-217 After a painting (pinxit) by Benjamin West (1738-1820), American

32 Published by John Boydeli, (1719-180*1), English Per Fronmen Lotterie, oder Geistliches Schatz Kastlein Engraving (Hand colored at a later date) 18J x 33" Germantown: Christopher Saur. 1744 West comnissioned Boydeli to market This biblical lottery consists of an engraving after his famous paint­ three hundred and eighty-one ing executed in London in 1772 (now nuirbered tickets, each containing in the collection of the Pennsyl­ a poetic gem composed by Gerhard vania Academy of Fine Arts). Tersteegen (a German ascetic and Although historically inaccurate in poet), and a verse or passage details, this legendary image set fran the Scriptures. It was the tone for the Europeans' imagin­ thought of as "a drawing of ings of the Quakers' dealing with prises from a spiritual treasury the "noble savage." to uplift the despondent,"-a colonial I_ Ching. 74-G-4S7

Rosenbach: 30

Lent by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania 34 on 20th Street, directly across from the main campus. Child's Sampler, American, 1795 by Hannah Cooper Lent by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 13 x 15 ins.

The art of errtoroidery was a part of every young girls education in 36 the eighteenth century, Various stitches were practiced on a Benjamin West, P.R.A. (1739-1820), sampler which usually had a central American design and often included a text (consisting of a Biblical quota­ Theirs' is the Kingdom of tion or sentimental verse on the , 1775 theme of mortality and death) and the names of living and/or Oil on canvas deceased mentoers of the family. 50 x 39-5/8 ins.

Anonymous loan Born in Springfield, Pa. of Quaker heritage, West was the first Ameri­ can artist to acquire an inter­ national reputation. He emigrated 35 to England in the 1760's, remaining there for the major part of his Charles Willson Peaie career. Here he became an instru­ (1741-1827), American mental force in promoting the neo­ classical style of painting, and Portrait of Robert Aitkin taught such famous American artists c. 1780-1795 as Gilbert Stuart and Thomas Sully. Under the patronage of King George Oil on canvas III, West became one of the fore­ 18| x 24! Ik s . most paint el’s of historical and religious drama, a founding merrber Peaie was America's most praoinent of the Royal Academy, London, and colonial portrait painter. In 1810 later its President. at sixty-nine years of age, he took up residence at the one hundred 73-P-125 acre Belfield Farm, where he pur­ sued farming and landscape garden­ ing until 1821. The present campus of la Salle College was purchased from the Belfield Farm property in 1S26. The farm house is located

Br. Daniel Burke, Director Caroline Wistar, Curator References

(D & M) Darlow, T. H. and Historical Catalogue of the Moule, H. F. Printed Editions of Holy Scripture in the Library of the British and Foreigh Bible Society. (4 volumes) London, 1903 (Reprint - Kraus Reprint Corporation, New York, 1963

Hills, Margaret, editor The English Bible in America A Bibliography of Editions of the Bible and the New Testament published in America 1777-1957 (New York, American Bible Society and the New Public Library, 1962).

O'Callahan, E. B. A List of Editions of the Holy Scriptures... Printed in America Previous to 1860 (Albany, Munsell & Rowland, 1861)

Rcsenbach, A. S. W. Early American Children’s Bibles (Southworth Press, Portland, Maine, 1933)

Runtoell-Petre, Edwin A. R. Rare Bibles (Philip C. Duschnes, New York, 1954) We wish to extend our grateful thanks to the following lenders for their significent contributions to this exhibition:

Ihe Atheneaum of Philadelphia The Rare Bode Room, The Free Library of Philadelphia The Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Library Company of Philadelphia The Lutheran Theological Seminary Library, Philadelphia

A word of thanks also to Bro. Gregory Paul, F.S.C., for help in the preparation of the exhibition and catalogue. Last but not least this catalogue would not have been possible without the able volunteer assistance of Mrs. Catherine E. Doran who patiently typed the entire text.